Through The Looking Glass2015-2016: Robin DohertyJ378rdoherty@maldenps.org
How do the environments that we grow up in affect our perspectives? How does an individual resist culture and tradition? How does a person’s perception influence his or her understanding of a text? Why is it important to try to see ideas from another person’s perspective? What does the author want us to see? What new insights have been generated? In this course we will explore these questions through different literary genres (i.e. novels, short stories, and nonfiction). Quarterly topic titles include Global Awareness, War, Gender and Identity, and Fantasy as a Reflection of Reality. The goal is to help students attend to author's purpose, appreciating stories as providing the "looking glass" to see the lives of others and simultaneously for better self-reflection. Some texts will include The Kite Runner, Alice Bliss, and Hamlet. In addition to reading and responding to these novels as a class, students will read and discuss related nonfiction and additional works for independent reading and book clubs. There will also be a cinema component to the class, to include films ranging from Slumdog Millionaire, The Giver, and Alice in Wonderland. Writing assignments will include the senior essay, literary analysis, creative projects, the use of "new media" and the completion of the senior research paper and writing portfolio. Students wishing to acquire honors level credit for the course will complete additional readings and critical review of selected authors’ work.
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
How do the environments that we grow up in affect our perspectives? How does an individual resist culture and tradition? How does a person’s perception influence his or her understanding of a text? Why is it important to try to see ideas from another person’s perspective? What does the author want us to see? What new insights have been generated? In this course we will explore these questions through different literary genres (i.e. novels, short stories, and nonfiction). Quarterly topic titles include Global Awareness, War, Gender and Identity, and Fantasy as a Reflection of Reality. The goal is to help students attend to author's purpose, appreciating stories as providing the "looking glass" to see the lives of others and simultaneously for better self-reflection. Some texts will include The Kite Runner, Alice Bliss, and Hamlet. In addition to reading and responding to these novels as a class, students will read and discuss related nonfiction and additional works for independent reading and book clubs. There will also be a cinema component to the class, to include films ranging from Slumdog Millionaire, The Giver, and Alice in Wonderland. Writing assignments will include the senior essay, literary analysis, creative projects, the use of "new media" and the completion of the senior research paper and writing portfolio. Students wishing to acquire honors level credit for the course will complete additional readings and critical review of selected authors’ work.
Class Syllabus:
Period 5
Period 6
College Essay (650 words or less)
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.